National

NFP unhappy with financial year changes

The National Federation Party (NFP) has hit out at the Government’s decision to change the financial year from January 01 – December 31 to August 01 – July 31. Minister for Finance Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum announced the changes at a press briefing yesterday. In a statement released a short while ago, NFP Leader Dr. Biman Prasad […]

Calvin Prasad

March 29, 2016 12:54 pm

The National Federation Party (NFP) has hit out at the Government’s decision to change the financial year from January 01 – December 31 to August 01 – July 31.

In a statement released a short while ago, NFP Leader Dr. Biman Prasad said the reasons for the changes as announced by Minister Sayed-Khaiyum was ‘nonsensical.’

The most nonsensical reasons are that FRCA received late payment of taxes on 31st December around 4.30pm and that in December most officers are on holiday or in holiday mode!

This is insulting the honesty, efficiency and hard work of our public servants, especially those tasked with the responsibility of implementing fiscal policies outlined in every annual national budget.

Dr. Prasad said the current financial year had been the standard since Fiji’s independence.

The fact is that the current financial year has been the standard since our Independent history for the last 45 years.

We have had more than our fair share of natural disasters. But financial years were not changed.

The NFP Leader called on the Government to ‘re-prioritize expenditure towards rehabilitation’ by:

slash the inflated budgets of our military and peacekeeping and demand the United Nations repay all outstanding amounts;

reduce the budget of Fiji Roads Authority, currently over $600 million;

slash the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation public service broadcast grant of over $11 million;

re-direct marketing and hosting expenses of $9 million allocated for the international golf tournament, over $6 million for a one-off Super Rugby match and $18 million to Fiji Airways to promote its Singapore route.

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